Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From?

Pure functionality was the original purpose of fountains. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the area. Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water move downwards or jet high into the air. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the designer. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. To depict the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. To mark the entryway of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the building of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome

Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely decorative. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.

Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the purposes of modern-day fountains.

The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Outdoor Water fountains

An extensive cleaning every three-four months is recommended for garden fountains. The initial step is to get rid of all the water. When you have done this, scour inside the water reservoir with a gentle detergent. If there is detailed artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Make sure all the soap is totally washed off.

Calcium and fresh water organisms can get inside the pump, so you should disassemble it to get it truly clean. You might want to let it soak in vinegar for a few hours to make it quicker to scrub. Neither rain water nor mineral water contain substances that will collect inside the pump, so use either over tap water if possible.

And finally, make sure the water level is continuously full in order to keep your fountain operating smoothly. Allowing the water level to get too low can cause damage to the pump - and you certainly don't want that!